Parent Handbook 2022-2023 - 1138 Seminole Avenue West Saint Paul, MN 55118 651-789-8300 Website: www.stjosephwsp.org - eCatholic
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Parent Handbook
2022-2023
1138 Seminole Avenue
West Saint Paul, MN 55118
651-789-8300
Website: www.stjosephwsp.orgTABLE OF CONTENTS
Welcome....................................................................................................................Page 4
Letter from the Preschool Program Coordinator
Philosophy .............................................................................................................Page 5-6
Mission Statement
Preschool Philosophy
Program Goals and Educational Methods
Curricular Framework
Assessments and Evaluation
Program Details..................................................................................................... Page 6-8
Hours/Days of Operation
Lunch Bunch
Program Plan
Supervision of Children
Emergencies/Closings
School Calendar
Field Trips
Daily Procedures ................................................................................................ Page 9-12
Drop Off/Pick Up
Security
Attendance
School Supplies
Snacks/Sharing
Birthday Celebrations
What to Wear
Personal Belongings
Registration and Enrollment .............................................................................Page 13-15
Admission Policy
Tuition and Fees
Withdrawal from Program
Required Information about Medical or Learning Needs
Behavior and Social Development.....................................................................Page 16-17
Code of Conduct
Discipline and Behavior Guide
Health and Safety ..............................................................................................Page 18-23
Required Paperwork
Change of Contact Information
Allergies/Food Intolerances
2Children who Become Sick During Program Hours
Sick Child Restrictions/Notifications
Emergency Procedures
Child Abuse/Neglect Reporting
Children with Special Needs
Family Community Resources
Pets
Tobacco Free Environment
Communication/Parent Information .................................................................Page 24-26
Communication
Orientation
Conferences
Non-Custodial Parental Rights
Grievance Procedure
Governance
Volunteers/Visitors………………………………………………………………………………………………Page27
Public Relations/Photography………………………………………………………………………………Page28
Licensing………………………………………………………………………………………………………………Page28
Contact Us ...............................................................................................................Page 29
Parent Signature Page.............................................................................................Page 30
3August 2022
Dear Parents,
I would like to welcome you and your family to the start of a new school year at St. Joseph’s Preschool.
We look forward to all that God will do this year as we work together in building a foundation for your
child’s future. Our staff is excited to get to know your child and is committed to providing a nurturing,
faith-based environment that allows your child to grow at his or her own pace. Each day in preschool
will be filled with exciting and fun opportunities to help every child develop spiritually, socially,
physically, and academically. This Parent Handbook is a wonderful resource filled with information
about preschool and lays out the policies and procedures we have in place. Please be sure to read this
handbook and return the signature page at the end. The signature page must be signed and returned
prior to the first day of school and indicates your understanding of and support for our policies and
procedures. We can discuss any questions you may have at orientation, or please contact me at 651-
789-8300 or saknudson@stjosephwsp.org.
On behalf of everyone at St Joseph’s Preschool, we are very excited to welcome your child and your
family into our preschool community!
Thank you,
Sandy Knudson
Sandy Knudson
Preschool Program Coordinator
St. Joseph’s Preschool ~ 1138 Seminole Avenue ~ West St. Paul, Minnesota 55118
651-789-8300 ~ www. stjosephwsp.org
4ST. JOSEPH’S SCHOOL MISSION
St. Joseph's Catholic School educates students through faith formation, academic excellence,
and the development of virtue to be disciples of Christ.
PRESCHOOL PHILOSOPHY
St. Joseph’s Preschool is committed to excellence in early childhood education and to providing a
loving and faith-based program to help your child grow and develop at his or her unique pace. As a
Catholic preschool, we will provide a child-focused celebration of faith integrated throughout the
day. We encourage both spontaneity and structured activity. We believe play is the work of young
children; therefore, our classrooms will be environments that encourage safe and creative play on
many different levels.
Our Integrated Thematic Approach utilizes literacy to develop a broad curriculum built around
themes that are both relevant and interesting to the preschool child. The child’s learning and
development will grow out of the engaging thematic opportunities that are designed by the teacher
to specifically support developmental goals for the child.
St. Joseph’s Preschool is committed to developing a partnership with parents to foster the unique
and God-given gifts within each child.
PROGRAM GOALS and EDUCATIONAL METHODS
Our creative and nurturing environment encourages each individual child to:
1. Build confidence and pride;
2. Interact socially and learn cooperatively;
3. Develop learning skills to support language and cognitive growth; and 4.
Grow in faith and understanding of God’s world around us!
We do this through a developmentally appropriate program that balances structured opportunities
and child-initiated activities and choices. Your child will be engaged in thematic units that stimulate
curiosity while providing ample opportunities to develop social and early academic skills. The
preschool day consists of literacy based activities such as books, poetry and fine motor skills.
Expressive arts, music, hands-on math, science exploration, dramatic play, and large motor skills
round out our days. A program plan is available for review upon request.
We provide a Catholic learning environment in which we integrate our faith throughout the day with
prayers, music, lessons and celebrations. All children, regardless of religion, are welcomed as
students at our preschool. Character development is a key focus.
Most importantly, we seek to make preschool a delightful experience, so that a curiosity of learning is
fostered in each child!
5CURRICULAR FRAMEWORK
St. Joseph’s Preschool provides a balanced, age-appropriate curriculum based on best practices in
early literacy, math, science, social studies, and religion (integrated with social, emotional and
physical development), and a professional commitment to meeting the developing skills of preschool
children. All curricular areas are represented in daily lessons, monthly themes and the bi annual
assessments. The teachers and administrators work together to make adaptations to curriculum to
meet the needs of families and individual students within reason.
ASSESSMENTS AND EVALUATION
All children receive both ongoing formal and informal evaluation in order to best support your child’s
growth and development. The assessments are based on our curricular goals and best practice in
early childhood. This allows us to plan cognitive, social, physical and spiritual goals. The assessments
are formally shared with parents twice a year or more. All teachers are trained in the assessment
methods.
PROGRAM DETAILS
HOURS/DAYS OF OPERATION
The St. Joseph’s Preschool will operate several classes in two classrooms, based on age. We are
licensed by the State of Minnesota for 40 children.
PROGRAM DAYS OFFERED TIME __ TUITION
Terrific Threes (Must be 3 by September 1)
2 days Tuesday/Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. $1,575
Pre-K 4s (Must be 4 by September 1)
3 days Monday/Wednesday/Friday 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. $2,070
Pre-K 4/5s (Recommended 4 ½ by September 1)
4 days Monday-Thursday 12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. $2,835
LUNCH BUNCH
Extend the fun of preschool by adding an additional hour to your child’s preschool day from 11:30
a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Students bring their own lunch and drink. Add in extra playtime with friends,
time for a choice activity or story time and weather permitting, outdoor fun. Parents benefit from a
longer session while the preschool staff supervises the children. *Please see rates on website or
contact the Program Manager if you are interested in this option.
6PROGRAM PLAN
Parents are welcome to review the St. Joseph’s Program Plan, upon request. This document
outlines areas of the classroom, activity by area, daily schedule etc. Please see the lead teacher.
SUPERVISION OF CHILDREN
We meet and exceed state licensing requirements by ensuring the proper ration of adults to students.
EMERGENCY CLOSINGS
St. Joseph’s Preschool will follow St. Joseph’s School in all decisions regarding weather-related
closings; St. Joseph’s School normally follows District #197’s closing decisions with relation to
weather. If ISD 197 is closed, St. Joseph’s School and Preschool will normally be closed.
Emergency school closings due to inclement or severe weather will be announced on WCCO 4
(www.minnesota.cbslocal.com) or KARE 11 (www.kare11.com). Parents should listen to weather
related closure announcements. We will also update the website as soon as possible. Because other
emergencies can happen (broken water pipes/boiler malfunction) and school may need to be called
off, it is imperative that all parents provide St. Joseph’s Preschool with current home, cell and work
phone numbers on the Emergency Contact Form. It is the parent’s responsibility to update these
cards if any information changes during the year.
[COVID-Note: Closures related to COVID-19 exposures will be made separately from ISD 197, and may be made
independently of the K-8 program, based upon its physical separation from the school.]
PRESCHOOL CALENDAR
The Preschool year runs September through May. We begin the year with small individual
orientation visits. Parents will be emailed a copy of the Preschool calendar.
The Preschool calendar closely follows St. Joseph’s School calendar, especially as it relates to days off
school, however there are some days that the preschool is not consistent with the school and these
days will be noted in the preschool calendar. Any alterations to the school calendar, such as preschool
program start and end dates and other accommodations for preschool programming, will be noted in
parent communications and in the program calendar.
There is no tuition reimbursement for days not in session or for days that the student is not in
attendance due to illness, appointments, family activities etc.
7FIELD TRIPS/ENRICHMENT
All preschoolers will have the opportunity to further their understanding of the world through special
enrichment opportunities such as educational programs brought in house, specialists from the school
and community, and unique opportunities in our neighborhood that enhance our curriculum.
In addition, field trips are an important part of programming for the Pre-K 4s and Pre-K 4/5s. Such trips
may include school bus transportation. Field trips are not included in the tuition and additional costs
will be the responsibility of the parents. Parents will receive advance notice of all trips. A signed
permission slip is required for the child to participate. If you choose not to have your child participate,
they will have the day off and should stay at home. There is no tuition reimbursement for this day.
There are times when it is important to have additional adults accompany the preschoolers on their
trips. We will request help from parents in advance. All chaperones must have a Virtus background
check, signed Code of Conduct and Virtus training completed to be eligible to volunteer for field trips
or in the classrooms.
8DAILY PROCEDURES
DROP-OFF AND PICK UP
Safety is our primary concern, as is a smooth arrival and dismissal for all. It is possible the
procedures may change during the school year, but you will be notified if there are any
adjustments.
Parking is allowed on both sides of Seminole Avenue during the Preschool arrival time. The parking lot
on the corner of Seminole and Orme is available, too. It is very important to be good neighbors to the
residents who live so close to the school. Watch carefully not to block any driveways when parking on
the street. Also, please pull forward as much as you can allow for more parking spaces.
Drop-off Morning Classes: The Preschool morning arrival procedure will begin at 8:50 am. To support
our school start time of 9:00 am. Families are asked to park their vehicles and bring their child(ren) to
the outside entrance of Preschool. A staff member will be at the Preschool entrance to assist children
to the lobby area, take off coats, hang backpacks and walk to the classrooms. The classroom teacher
will be in the room waiting for the arrival of the children.
Drop-off Afternoon Class: Our afternoon drop-off procedure will begin at 12:30 p.m. Please park in
the front of the Preschool on Seminole Avenue. A staff member will be at the Preschool entrance to
greet the children. Other staff will be present to assist children to the lobby area, take off coats, hang
backpacks and walk to the classroom. The teacher will remain in the classroom to greet the afternoon
children.
Face Masks: Currently, parents are allowed to make the best decision regarding face coverings for
their child.
However, we recognize the potential fluidity of the pandemic and will continue to prudently
evaluate all public health recommendations and implement those that we believe will best serve
our students, staff, and entire community or are required by licensing. If circumstances arise that
warrant changing our approach, we will communicate this as soon as feasible.
Upon Entering the Classroom: All staff and students will thoroughly wash hands when arriving in
the classroom and throughout the day.
Pick-up Morning Classes: The children will be dismissed from the classroom teacher at an outside
location -- this might be from the park, a grassy area or even the main Preschool doors. The children
will be ready to go home with their belongings at the 11:30 a.m. dismissal time. Please help us
establish good social distancing routines at the end of our day.
Pick-Up Afternoon Class: The afternoon Preschool children will be dismissed to parents in the back
parking lot of the school. Enter your vehicle at the Butler entrance, park your car behind any
orange cones and exit to Orme Street. The afternoon children will have all their belongings at the
3:30 p.m. dismissal. Be aware of physical distancing guidelines during the end of the day routine.
9Authorized Pickups: All adults who are authorized by you to pick up your child, including carpool
arrangements, must be noted on the ALTERNATE PICKUP/CARPOOL AUTHORIZATION FORM.
Note: anyone other than those authorized to pick up your child from school must have a WRITTEN
AUTHORIZATION from the parent before we release the child to that adult. If a staff member is
unfamiliar with a pick-up person, please know that a driver’s license will be checked to ensure the
safety of your child.
Late Fees: A staff member will stay with the child until they have been picked up. A late fee of $10 per
5-minute segments will be charged if staff is required to supervise your child beyond 5 minutes past
pickup.
SECURITY
Our Preschool doors will be locked approximately ten minutes after class begins and will remain
locked throughout our class time. If you arrive after that window of time, please check in at the
main school office and they will contact us. As well, if you need to pick up your child early, you will
need to go to the main school office and they will alert us of your arrival. Please inform your child’s
teacher of your early pick-up plans ahead of time.
Providing a safe environment for students and staff is a priority. If you are visiting or dropping your
child off after the regular drop off time, please check in at the school office through the main doors.
Visitor Policy: The doors to the preschool will be locked ten (10) minutes after the start of class and
remain locked during class. Parents requiring entry during the preschool day must check in at the
school office by entering the main school doors off Seminole Avenue. All visitors will receive a visitor’s
badge. The school office will alert the preschool staff of the visitor. Please see further visitor policies.
ATTENDANCE
If your child will miss class for any reason, please call the Preschool by 8:45 a.m. for the morning
session or 12:15 p.m. for the afternoon session and leave a message on the PRESCHOOL
ATTENDANCE HOTLINE (651-789-8300, Press 1). If your child will miss three or more classes in a row,
please notify the your child’s teacher in writing. If your child’s absence is due to illness, please notify
us of symptoms/details so that appropriate communications can occur if it is communicable or
contagious.
SCHOOL SUPPLIES
A list of school supplies will be emailed in August. Every family is expected to contribute.
• PreK 4’s: Bring supplies to Preschool at orientation
• Terrific 3’s: Bring supplies end of October.
• PreK 4/5’s: Bring supplies beginning of February.
See Preschool calendars for exact dates
10SNACKS
Each family will be responsible to provide snacks for the class several times a year on a rotating
basis. You will be assigned a date on the teacher’s monthly calendar. Please bring the number of
snacks written on your snack calendar for your child’s class. Also, please include any plastic utensils
needed for your snack.
Preschool licensing requires us to serve 2 of the 4 food groups: fruit/vegetables, meat/meat alternate,
grains/breads, and milk/dairy. Please keep this in mind when sending snacks to school. Suggestions for
snack will be distributed at the beginning of the year along with any known allergies in the class.
Grapes, raisins, marshmallows, and regular popcorn will not be served in preschool for any age group.
Carrots and pretzel sticks are not served to Terrific Threes. Snacks must be store-bought and
individually wrapped. Please do not send sugary snacks.
St. Joseph’s School and Preschool is a multi-function facility. Therefore, we are not a “nut free” zone.
We do not serve snacks that include nut ingredients. Snacks which list peanut or nut ingredients on
the nutrition label will not be served during snack time. Your attention to the nutritional labels and
your support is appreciated.
SHARING
Sharing: Each teacher will communicate sharing (show and tell) options for their classroom.
Sharing time will include “showing and telling” about the special item which your child wants
to share.
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS
We love to recognize your child, especially on her/his special day (Summer birthdays will be celebrated
on a predetermined date selected by the teacher). Your child will be assigned snack on the class day
closest to their birthday without overlapping another child’s birthday. Please choose healthy, store-
purchased, individually wrapped snacks – again, please do not send sugary snacks. Birthday treats can
be something special such as fruit, yogurt, or puff popcorn (no regular popcorn, please).
On their day, the child can invite a special birthday guest to class to read a book of their choosing. If
an adult cannot attend, the family is encouraged to select a favorite book and send it with their child
for the teacher to read. Please make arrangements with the teacher.
Birthday Party invitations- NO birthday party invitations will be distributed at school unless every
child in the class receives an invitation.
11WHAT TO WEAR
Since Preschool is an active learning environment with many hands-on activities, the children’s
clothing should be comfortable and washable. Play clothes are best. Even washable art materials can
be hard to clean completely. St. Joseph’s Preschool is not responsible for lost or damaged clothing.
Daily outdoor play is an important part of your child’s day at preschool. The children should be
prepared to play outdoors year-round, weather permitting. For cold weather, please send a warm
coat, hat, mittens, plus boots and snow pants. Also, children cannot wear boots in the classroom, so
please send a separate pair of shoes.
Footwear: Clogs, Crocs, flip-flops, and sandals have proven to be unsafe. Please send your child in tennis
shoes or other closed-toe shoes to provide support and make walking, running, and climbing safer and
more fun.
All clothing should be clearly labeled with the family last name.
Accidents: We also encourage families to have an extra change of clothes in the bottom of your
school bag as backup if needed. Please put these items in a Ziplock bag in your child’s backpack. We
will send the soiled home in the bag as well.
PERSONAL BELONGINGS
Children should not bring toys, electronics or other personal items to school except for sharing
days. St. Joseph’s Preschool is not responsible for lost/broken items brought from home.
12REGISTRATION AND ENROLLMENT
ADMISSION POLICY
St. Joseph’s Preschool provides a faith-based, kindergarten readiness program for children aged 3, 4,
or 5. We are a part of St. Joseph’s School (PreK-8) and enjoy the support of both the school and
parish.
Once registration opens, enrollment continues until the programs reach capacity. Our age of admission
into each program is dependent upon the age of the child on September 1 of that year.
Admissions and Registration Policy
All preschoolers must be toilet-trained and meet age eligibility. St. Joseph’s Preschool welcomes all
children, however, some physical, emotional, behavioral or learning needs require additional
consideration. Children with serious physical, emotional, behavioral or learning concerns may not be
able to be serviced by the preschool staff. Parents should consult with the Director regarding concerns
or correct age placement prior to registering.
Class Size: St. Joseph’s Preschool is a Minnesota State licensed facility and has a capacity of twenty
(20) children per classroom with two (2) teachers. It is the policy of St. Joseph’s Preschool to
maintain a minimum number of students in each class in order to support a developmentally
appropriate learning environment.
St. Joseph’s Preschool is self-supporting and relies on tuition as revenue to operate. Therefore:
• Each preschool classroom and program must have a minimum number and no more than
(20) students to be properly staffed and financially viable.
• The Lunch Bunch program must have at least four (4) students and nore more that twent (20)
and will be staffed appropriately.
• The Preschool Director will work with families regarding program eligibility and availability.
All preschool programs meet state licensing requirements.
Registration Process: Registration takes place late winter after the budget has been approved and
tuition has been set for the following school year. Preschool registration begins during the
Registration Information Sessions and remains open until classes are filled.
The following registration materials must be completed:
• Registration form
• Non-refundable, per-child Registration Fee of $75
• Student’s preschool screening is shared when completed.
St. Joseph’s Preschool is a program directly affiliated with St. Joseph’s School (K-8), both educational
ministries of the Church of St. Joseph. This admissions policy gives priority to families with students
in the K-8 program and Church of St. Joseph registered and active parishioners.
13Parishioner status is demonstrated by the following:
• Completion of a registration card on file at the parish.
• Regular worship at St. Joseph’s Church and contributions to Sunday offerings.
• Generous commitment and faithful honoring of time and talent.
• Persons shall not be registered parishioners at other parishes.
Classroom openings will be filled by the following criteria for those registrations received by the
Priority Deadline:
1. Families with children already enrolled at St. Joseph’s Preschool.
2. Parishioners with children already enrolled at St. Joseph’s School.
3. Parishioners who were registered by Dec. 31 of the year prior to enrollment. 4. New
parishioners who have moved into the parish from another Catholic parish and who demonstrate
they were active parishioners.
5. Non-parishioners with children in the School.
6. Non-parishioners.
Waiting Pool: Once all openings are filled, subsequent names will be numbered and placed in the
waiting pool. Families will be contacted as openings occur.
TUITION and FEES
Each year, tuition is established for the subsequent school year by the Principal in consultation with
the Pastor and Parish Finance Council. Tuition is pro-rated as a monthly fee, but can be paid in one
payment in August. If a monthly option is chosen, the ten tuition payments are scheduled for August
through May. Billing options will be offered through TADS. TADS may have separate fees for credit card
use. In addition, fees for special programs such as Lunch Bunch are also covered under this policy.
There is no tuition or fee reimbursement for days the program is not in session due to Preschool
scheduled holidays, and weather-related closings or for days that the student is absent due to illness,
travel or other reasons.
Delinquent Tuition and Fees
Tuition and Fees Policy
Families are responsible to keep current with all tuition and fees obligations. All applicable policies
regarding tuition, late fees and penalties are identified within the TADS tuition agreements. Families
with delinquent tuition accounts, including fines and fees, will not be permitted to register for the
subsequent school year – and may be asked to find an alternative Preschool option for their children
at any time throughout the year.
14WITHDRAWAL FROM PROGRAM
Each child is enrolled for an entire school year, or the balance of the year at the time of enrollment.
Withdrawal from the St. Joseph’s Preschool and/or the Lunch Bunch programs requires a one month
notification in writing so that the preschool can coordinate with families on the waiting list. Full
tuition and fees must be paid through the notification period.
REQUIRED INFORMATION ABOUT MEDICAL OR LEARNING NEEDS
Parents/legal guardians have the responsibility to inform the preschool prior to enrollment, or as
soon as the evaluation process has begun, when their child has any special medical condition,
dietary restrictions, special needs or allergies to ensure that St. Joseph’s Preschool is able to
reasonably accommodate the child’s needs within the structure of the preschool.
Parents/legal guardians must also inform and provide documentation regarding special services. If
the child has an ISP (individual Service Plan) and/or an IEP (Individualized Education Plan), or is in the
process of professional evaluation, parents/legal guardians must also meet with the preschool
prior to enrollment, or as soon as the process has begun, in order to determine the most
appropriate plan to meet the child’s needs.
15BEHAVIOR AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
OUR CODE OF CONDUCT
At St. Joseph’s Preschool, we believe all students, parents and staff should maintain a code of
conduct that reflects Gospel values, cooperation, responsibility, self-esteem and respect within a
safe and stimulating environment.
Classroom rules and expectations will be clearly communicated to parents and students. In
general, behavior expectations include:
1. Respect for self
2. Respect for others
3. Respect for property
4. Following directions
As part of classroom management, the staff will encourage positive behavior and redirect
inappropriate behavior.
DISCIPLINE and BEHAVIOR GUIDANCE
All children and adults deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. St. Joseph’s Preschool believes
that children build their self-esteem and character through positive guidance coupled with support to
learn appropriate behaviors to deal with conflict and challenging situation. We promote a positive
atmosphere through clear and consistent expectations and an atmosphere of peace and cooperation.
Our Code of Conduct above is the foundation of our behavior guidance.
Discipline and Behavior Guidance Policy
Preschool students are expected to follow classroom rules and expectations and behave in a
considerate and safe manner toward preschool staff and other students. When behavior becomes
inappropriate or disruptive, the teacher will:
1. Redirect the child, spelling out student choices and consequences.
2. Take the child aside and/or direct them to a quiet activity of teacher’s choice.
3. Separate the child from the group to a supervised area. When this occurs, the parent will be
notified.
In order to determine an effective behavior management course of action, serious or repeated
offences may require a conference between parent, teacher and Director prior to a student’s return
to class.
Based on the Program Coordinator’s professional judgment, a child may be dismissed from the
program if one or more of the following behaviors exist:
• The child poses a threat to self, other children, or staff.
• The child’s behavior is difficult to manage in a group, impeding group progress.
• The child or parents use abusive or threatening language toward children or
staff.
16It is the policy of St. Joseph’s Preschool to hold a conference with parent, teacher and the Program
Coordinator to discuss any serious infraction that might result in a dismissal. The School Principal may be
included in this conference. However, if a situation occurs that jeopardizes the immediate welfare of
children or staff, the Director reserves the right to dismiss the child immediately.
Teaching staff choose positive guidance and support for the child to help them make proper choices.
17HEALTH AND SAFETY
Our goal is to provide a safe, secure, and healthy environment for the children and staff in our
program. St. Joseph’s Preschool will have access to the St. Joseph’ School’s Nurse on duty for
consultation and emergency care. Should a child become sick during the preschool session, the child
will be separated from the class to a supervised area while parents are called for pick-up. If injured
and deemed necessary, the student will remain stationary and the school nurse and/or the
appropriate medical personnel will be contacted immediately. If the child is severely ill or injured, 911
will be called.
REQUIRED PAPERWORK
Records Requirements Policy
Each student must have a completed Health Care Summary and Child Care Immunization Record on
file prior to the first day of school, per licensing regulations.
In addition, the following forms are required by the first day of St. Joseph’s Preschool: •
Family Information/Emergency Form
• Alternate Pickup/Carpool Authorization
• Consent to Share Health Information
• Parent Handbook Signage Page.
These forms are provided by the preschool. Please note, the Health Care Summary must be signed by
your health care provider. If you have any questions or concerns specific to your child, please see the
Director or call the School Nurse at 651-457-8550.
CHANGE OF CONTACT INFORMATION
It is the parent’s responsibility to notify St. Joseph’s Preschool IMMEDIATELY of any change in
name, address, telephone numbers and change of emergency contact information.
MEDICATION
Since St. Joseph’s Preschool is a half-day preschool program, staff will NOT administer medication. In
rare cases, medication is necessary and will be administered by the School Nurse. Medication will
only be administered if it is prescribed by the physician with signed instructions, if we have permission
from the parents and it is provided in the original container. Parents are encouraged to communicate
directly with the School Nurse and update the teacher as necessary. Do not send medicines with your
child to keep in their backpack for self-medications such as cough drops and inhalers. They will not be
allowed unless supervised by the nurse.
18ALLERGIES/FOOD INTOLERANCE
Allergies present serious health concerns and are managed by our School Nurse, the Preschool staff,
and the child’s medical practitioner. All known allergies should be noted in the Health Information
Form prior to attendance at Preschool, or shared once parents are aware.
Food allergies have an additional level of concern for students eating at school.
Also, as mentioned prior, please choose healthy, store-purchased, individually
wrapped snacks – again, please do not send sugary snacks.
Food Allergy Policy
Parents are responsible for notifying the child’s teacher regarding food or other allergies
and/or diet restrictions upon the child’s enrollment.
St. Joseph’s Preschool is sensitive to the needs of children with food allergies. St. Joseph’s School and
Preschool facilities are designated as a “nut aware environment”. St. Joseph’s Preschool will work
with families to minimize health risks for our students within the limits of our facility, staff
responsibility and educational programming.
Food Allergy Procedures:
1. In order to best ensure that a child with allergies does not ingest food that provides a health
risk, all children with a food allergy are required to have a Food Allergy Plan for Preschool. This
standardized form is available from the Preschool and must be signed by the medical provider.
All Food Allergy Plans will include a photo of the child. These plans are posted in the classroom,
and filed in both the master file as well as the Health & Safety Review Manual.
2. A school nurse is on duty at St. Joseph’s School 5 days a week and annually reviews all Food
Allergy Plans. In addition, the nurse would be immediately contacted in a situation when a
food allergy reaction is suspected. The preschool staff is trained in allergy risks as well as
EpiPen use.
3. In an effort to minimize allergen exposure, we implement the following hand washing
procedures:
• Children wash hands upon entering the classroom.
• Children wash hands prior to snack time, and after snack if the teacher has allergen concerns
about the snack served to classmates.
• Children wash hands after any bathroom visit.
• All children in Lunch Bunch will be asked to wash hands immediately following lunch
to minimize spread of food proteins within the classroom environment.
4. Any medications required for implementation of the Food Allergy Plan, such as EpiPens, Benadryl or
other meds, must be provided by the family, in the original container.
• Prescribed medication such as an EpiPen must be provided in a container that has the child’s
label on it. In addition, there should be two Epi Pens provided.
• Allergy medications are kept in a specially marked box in the child’s classroom on the upper
19shelf of the teacher cabinets. All medications must be current and not expired.
• If we do use an EpiPen in an emergency, procedures require us to call 911.
5. If a child has a Food Allergy Plan, as prescribed by their physician, that child will only be served
snacks from his/her private supply of approved snacks that are provided by the parent. These snacks
are provided by parents in a plastic bin, marked with the child’s name. The teacher will not serve
other snacks brought in by other preschool families, even if they seemingly would not pose a health
risk.
• The only exception to this is the situation, such as Thanksgiving Feast or other holiday
celebrations. In that instance, the parent is contacted in advance of the day of the special
event. The parent is strongly encouraged to volunteer at these special events to be
responsible for food served to the child. Whether the parent is present or not, these
situations usually require that the parent is responsible for providing approved food in the
theme of the event.
6. While teachers are expected to use common sense, they are not responsible for reading product
labels to ensure nut products or other allergens are not served to the children in the class. Teachers
are responsible for supervising up to 20 preschool age children, and cannot guarantee proper
screening for individual snacks
7. Communication to preschool families and preschool peers: All families receive a Suggested Snack
List in August, which outlines many non-nut snacks. In addition, when a child with food allergies is in
a class, the classroom teacher re-distributes this list within the first week of class, or as soon as the
school is notified that food allergies exist.
• We ask families to consider these and similar items when providing snack. The teachers do
not have the responsibility for determining appropriateness of snack on a daily basis, although
we encourage common sense and do not serve peanuts, trail mix, or peanut butter to
minimize environmental exposure.
• Note, to minimize seriousness of ingestion of allergens, we believe our procedural
commitment to serving the allergy child only allergy-safe snacks from the child’s own snack
supply provided by parents is the safest and most reliable procedure for the child.
• If deemed necessary by the school nurse, age-appropriate resources will be shared with
the children, such as videos or books, to further educate the child’s peers on food allergies.
Parents will be alerted when this further training is provided to the preschool children.
8. If a child with food allergies enrolls in the optional Lunch Bunch program, it is imperative that the
parents, Lunch Bunch supervisor and director meet prior to enrollment to ensure the child’s allergy
plan can be accommodated within current procedures.
9. If the child’s allergy risk demands different procedures than outlined above, the parent, teacher,
Program Coordinator, and school nurse will meet to determine what accommodations could be made
within the limits of the facility, staff responsibility and educational programming. The school principal
will review these recommendations prior to implementation. If procedures are labor intensive or the
staff is unable to accommodate, the child may need to withdraw from the program.
20CHILDREN WHO BECOME SICK DURING PROGRAM HOURS
Preschool staff will likely be the first to respond to any illness, injury or health emergency. In
addition, a school nurse is available for consultation or assistance when needed.
If a child feels ill during the day, the teacher will evaluate the child and remove him/her from direct
contact with the group, under staff supervision. Parents will be notified by the teacher or the main
school office in case of illness or injury and may be asked to pick up the child as soon as possible.
CPR and First Aid Training is provided to all Preschool staff members that are required to have such
training. Staff will also know the location of the following: emergency numbers, emergency contacts,
and Family Emergency Cards. Emergency procedures will be followed as necessary. St. Joseph’s
Preschool retains the right to contact local paramedics and/or use ambulance transportation as
deemed necessary.
SICK CHILD RESTRICTION/NOTIFICATION
Parents must notify the preschool within 24 hours when their child has contracted an infectious
disease. This includes, but is not limited to strep throat, chicken pox, scabies, fifth’s disease,
conjunctivitis (pink eye), influenza, head lice and COVID-19.
All families will be notified of an outbreak or exposure to an infectious or communicable disease
through communication that is posted in the lobby or sent home.
In order to maintain a healthy environment for all children and staff, please follow this illness policy.
Children may not attend class or extended care if they are not feeling well or exhibiting symptoms of an
ongoing illness including the following:
• Harsh or persistent cough, sore throat
• Yellow or green discharge from nose
• Pink eye -students can return after first treatment or cleared by physician
• Rash -students should not return to school until you have check with your doctor
• Fever -students must be fever-free for 24 hours, un-medicated, before returning
• Vomiting -students should not return to school until 24 hours after final vomiting.
• Head lice -students may return to school but need to ensure there are no nits or live lice
• COVID 19 -students must be out in accordance with current guidelines
[COVID-Note: For all COVID-19 symptoms, please consult current guidelines issued by the school for both notification and
policies. Parents must strictly adhere to the policies regarding monitoring their child’s health, seeking medical attention when
necessary, and not exposing other children and staff to COVID-19 symptoms.]
21EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
FIRE, TORNADO AND SAFETY DRILLS
St. Joseph’s Preschool will conduct the required number of lockdown, fire and severe weather drills at
regular intervals throughout the school year in accordance with Minnesota Statute 121A.036,
section 299F. All students, staff and visitors are required to participate in the drills when present in th \e
building.
CHILD ABUSE/NEGLECT REPORTING
Minnesota State Law mandates reporting of suspected child abuse or neglect. Teachers, staff and
administration of St. Joseph’s Preschool and St. Joseph’s School are mandatory reporters if they have
knowledge of, or reasonable cause to believe, that a student is a victim of abuse.
All reports concerning suspected abuse of neglect of children occurring in a licensed facility should be
made to the Department of Human Services, Licensing Division’s Maltreatment Intake Line at 651-
431-6600. Reports regarding incidents of suspected abuse of neglect of children occurring within a
family or in the community should be made to the local county services agency (Dakota County 651-
554-6000) or local law enforcement agencies (WSP Police 651-552-4200).
Due to the health and safety of the children, an internal or external report of alleged or suspected
maltreatment by a staff person will immediately trigger proper notification to authorities; plus, an
internal review to evaluate whether related policies and procedures were followed; if the policies and
procedures were adequate; if there is need for additional staff training; if the reported event is similar
to past events, and if there is a need for corrective action by the preschool to protect the health and
safety of children. The internal review will be documented and provided to the state commissioner
upon request. Based on the results of the internal review, the preschool will develop, document and
implement a correction action plan. The Program Coordinator is the primary person who will ensure
the internal review and corrective action plan are completed. If the Director is suspected of
involvement, the School Principal will be responsible for the internal review and corrective action plan.
CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
St. Joseph’s Preschool strives to meet the needs of all children. Parents must discuss any language
barrier or special physical, medical, emotional, or learning needs with the Preschool Director prior to
registration.
Every attempt will be made to support a child with special needs. In the best interest of the child as
well as the effective management of the overall preschool program, several criteria will determine if a
child can be appropriately served at St. Joseph’s Preschool, including the needs of the class as a whole;
and the availability of appropriate staff to effectively meet the child’s special needs. If the student’s
needs exceed the capacity of the preschool staff, parents will be notified so that alternate
arrangements can be made.
22FAMILY COMMUNITY RESOURCES
The preschool staff will work with all families to provide a resource listing for Early Childhood
Screening, St. Joseph’s Preschool works closely with ISD 197 and St. Joseph’s School and other
resources to assist families in completing screenings. Many schools require screening results for
Kindergarten registration, including St. Joseph’s School.
PETS
Recognizing the special needs of students and faculty/staff who suffer from asthma, allergies and
related respiratory conditions, St. Joseph’s School and Preschool restricts the presence of fur or
feather-bearing animals in classrooms. Because we recognize that animals can enhance many
science and discovery themes, presentations made by groups such as Dodge Nature Center,
Minnesota or Como Zoo etc. are exempt from this policy with Program Coordinator approval.
Parents will be notified if animals will be present for learning opportunities.
A classroom pet can be appropriate for preschool classrooms. Any classroom pet must be a non-fur
and non-feather bearing animal and be approved by the Program Coordinator.
TOBACCO-FREE ENVIRONMENT
St. Joseph’s School, Preschool, Church and Parish Center, in compliance with the 1975 Minnesota
Clean Indoor Air Act, are designated as tobacco-free buildings.
23COMMUNICATION AND PARENT INFORMATION
COMMUNICATION
Communication between home and school is critical to the success of your child’s preschool experience.
While we have formal communication systems in place, please know that you are encouraged to contact
either teachers or the Director with questions or comments at any time. A contact list is included at the
back of this manual.
*If parents require a translator, please see the Program Coordinator to make appropriate
arrangements.
Newsletters: A monthly newsletter from the teacher will highlight programming, calendars,
reminders and other news.
Website: Many forms and newsletters will be posted on the St. Joseph’s School website
(www.stjosephwsp.org).
School Bags: Teachers will send home projects and notes through the weekly folders, provided by St.
Joseph’s Preschool. Please check backpacks each day after preschool.
Email: When necessary and appropriate, teachers and the Program Coordinator are encouraged to use
email as an efficient and immediate way to communicate. Please let the teacher know if your email is
not checked daily. Please keep email addresses up to date with the teacher or Preschool office.
School Directory: As a service to our school and preschool families, a full school directory is
distributed each fall to all St. Joseph’s School and Preschool families.
Class List: A classroom list of students and family contact information will be distributed at the
beginning of each school year, including phone numbers and email addresses.
ORIENTATION
Our Preschool year begins with an orientation visit to the classroom. More information regarding
orientation is communicated in August.
CONFERENCES
Preschool Conferences are held in the Fall, Winter and Spring and will be noted on the Preschool
calendar.
In-person Fall conferences are primarily goal setting meetings designed to establish a partnership
between home and school. Some preliminary assessments will have occurred prior to this
conference.
In addition, an informal telephone conference will be offered mid-winter. The teacher contacts the
family and provides an update on student progress as well as current classroom activity and goals.
24Spring conferences are in-person and will focus on formal and informal assessments of each child’s
growth. Depending upon the program, students will be assessed for cognitive, social/emotional,
language and motor development prior to these conferences.
The child’s intellectual, physical, social, and emotional development will be shared with parents. A
copy of the Progress Report will be provided to parents at the Fall and Spring Conferences.
Either parents or teachers can request additional conferences as the need arises. Because
instructional time belongs to the children, please do not conference with the teacher without an
appointment.
NON-CUSTODIAL PARENTAL RIGHTS
In the absence of a court order to the contrary, non-custodial parents have the right access and receive
copies of school records and other information, to attend conferences and be informed about their
child’s welfare, progress and status as authorized under Minnesota Statute 120A22, subdivision 1A. This
same statute states that schools are not required to provide separate conferences for non-custodial
parents.
GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES
A timely and open line of communication is highly valued at St. Joseph’s Preschool. In addition,
grievances must be addressed respectfully and effectively.
Grievance Procedures Policy
Parents and/or guardians use the following procedure for bringing grievances forward for
discussion/resolution:
1. If there is an issue or concern related to a classroom situation, address it first with your child’s
teacher. An appointment should be set up that does not interfere with the care and
supervision of children. If this does not satisfactorily resolve the issue, please contact the
Program Coordinator.
2. If the issue or concern is related to policy or administration, address the issue or concern with the
Director. If this does not satisfactorily resolve the issue, please contact the School Principal.
3. The Principal will be involved in grievance resolution after earlier attempts have not been succesful.
25GOVERNANCE
Administrative Structure
The Code of Canon Law states that the Pastor is the shepherd of the parish and carries out the
duties of teaching, governing and sanctifying. Therefore, the Pastor is the Chief Administrator of
the parish and school and represents the parish in all juridical matters.
The Principal works in tandem with the Pastor and is his designee in the leadership and management
of the school and its programs. The Principal is the Executive Officer of the School Board and Chief
Financial Officer of the school. The Principal has final authority and responsibility for all Preschool
and School programs and personnel.
The Preschool Program Coordinator reports to the Principal. The Progrm Coordinator is responsible
for the leadership and management of the Preschool and its programs.
School Advisory Council
The School Advisory Council acts in an advisory capacity to the Pastor and the Principal in matters
involving policy, budget, goals and long-range planning for the School and Preschool. Monthly
meetings are open to parents and parishioners.
26VOLUNTEERS AND VISITORS
VOLUNTEERS
Parent volunteers enrich the preschool experience. We welcome parents to share their time and
talents, hobbies and careers in the classroom. Please talk to your teacher if you have an idea to
incorporate into the curriculum planning. In addition, parents may volunteer to support special
classroom programs, activities or field trips.
As mentioned, In order to be eligible to volunteer in any capacity in the Preschool or School
program, the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis requires all volunteers to submit a
background check (at the school’s expense), sign a Code of Conduct, and be trained through the
Archdiocesan Virtus program. Information will be provided in the registration packets.
VISITORS
Parents of enrolled students are always welcome to visit during class. If you are coming to the
Preschool after normal drop off times, please check in with the School Office, as the Preschool
doors will be locked during the program hours.
Families will be notified in advance of special opportunities for parents or other special visitors to
join our classroom for birthdays and other celebrations, as well as volunteer opportunities.
27PUBLIC RELATIONS/PHOTOGRAPHY
All families will be given a Photography/Video Release Form (included on the Permission Slip form) that
gives permission for the child’s image to be used on the website, presentations, displays and in printed
publications. The child’s name is never used. Only those children with a signed release form will have
their picture used.
LICENSING
St. Joseph’s Preschool is licensed by the State of Minnesota. If there are questions or concerns about
St. Joseph’s Preschool and their licensing status, contact the Department of Human Services, Division
of Licensing at 651-431-6500.
St. Joseph’s Preschool is licensed to provide a preschool program designed for children ages 3, 4,
and 5. Classroom capacity, as determined by licensing, is 20 students with a student/staff ratio of
10:1. When two preschool classrooms are in operation, the total student capacity would be 40.
28CONTACT US
Principal Ginger Vance
651-457-8550
givnace@stjosephwsp.org
Preschool Program Coordinator Sandy Knudson
Assistant Teacher 651-789-8300
saknudson@stjosephwsp.org
Lead Teacher Peg Dierberger
651-789-8300
pedierberger@stjosephwsp.org
Lead Teacher Kirsten Abbott
651-789-8300
kiabbott@stjosephwsp.org
Assistant Teacher Natalie Kipka
nakipka@stjosephwsp.org
Assistant Teacher Julie Smith
jusmith@stjosephwsp.org
Assistant Teacher Virginia Stoffel
vistoffel@stjosephwsp.org
Pastor Fr. Michael Creagan
651-457-2781
frcreagan@churchofstjoseph.org
Business Administrator Patrick Menke
(Billing questions) 651-457-2781
patrick.menke@churchofstjoseph.org
29The Parent Handbook is also located
on the school’s website (www.stjosephwsp.org) .
Please take the time to read it, sign this Acknowledgement Form
and return it prior to the first day of class
St. Joseph’s Preschool
Parent Handbook
Acknowledgement Form
2022-2023
We have read the Preschool Parent Handbook and understand the policies and procedures at St.
Joseph’s Preschool.
Mother’s Name (print) __________________________________________
Signature ____________________________________________________
Date ________________________________
Father’s Name (print) ___________________________________________
Signature _____________________________________________________
Date _______________________
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